Searching family history

Finding historical records on the Western Australian Online Index.

The Registry has more than 3.1 million records relating to people who were born, married or died in Western Australia. A similar registration system operates in other Australian States and Territories, and records relating to your ancestors who may have lived interstate can be traced by inquiring at that state's registry.

The best way to trace your family tree is to start with the information you know and work backwards - yourself, your parents, grandparents, great grandparents. Your relatives can give you information about other family members, but as you move through the generations, you will need to start checking other sources. This is where birth, death and marriage certificates can help.

Online historic index searching of births, deaths and marriage

The Registry offers free online historic index searching of Western Australian births, deaths and marriages registered from 1841 and is available for the following range of Open Era years:

Birth indexes - 1841 to 1932
Death indexes - 1841 to 1971
Marriage indexes - 1841 to 1936

Transcripts of early colonial records (prior to 1841) deposited with the State archives can be viewed at the J S Battye Library, Alexander Library Building, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge.

A certificate of any birth, death or marriage registration located in the Western Australian Online Index can be purchased by selecting the order form option located at the end of each index entry. This form should be printed and the applicant details added before posting to the Registry along with the required fee.

In recognition of the fact that the fraudulent use of certificates reduces with the age of the record, the evidence-of-identity requirements are not required for historical Open Era records.

The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages is aware that some private companies charge a fee to download copies of birth, death and marriage certificate application forms or to assist with the certificate application process. Application forms are readily available for the public to download at no cost. These companies have no affiliation with the Registry and any complaints about their operations should be directed to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s Consumer Protection division.

If you are unsure of the particulars of an event, a ten year search of the indexes can be requested using the BDM350 Search for Birth, Death or Marriage form. The Registry will issue a letter of confirmation which can then be used to apply for a certificate if required.

When applying through this method provide as much information as you can as this will affect the results of the search:

Indicate if you are unsure how a name is spelt as minor variations of the spelling will be checked.
If the event date you provide is incorrect, the Register will be searched for five years either side of the nominated date.
If you do not know the date of the event, a search of the records can be undertaken by nominating the period you want searched.

Uncertified plain paper copies of original handwritten or typed WA records are available for:

Births that occurred 100 years or more ago
Deaths between 1841 to 1983 (original handwritten or typed records are not available for deaths from 1984 as they have all been digitised)
Marriages that occurred 75 years or more ago

These cannot be used for official or legal purposes such as proof of identity and can only be obtained from the Perth Registry Office. Applications will not be accepted at courthouse locations.

Uncertified copies of original records may be of varying quality and legibility, handwritten or typed. Every effort is made to provide the best image quality possible but where the image is difficult to decipher the Registry is unable to transcribe the document of provide a refund.

Please note some words in Open Era records may cause offence. In order to avoid causing offence, the copy you receive will be redacted unless you specifically ask for an un-redacted copy. By asking for an un-redacted copy, you accept that the copy you receive could contain words that may cause, or be capable of causing, offence to you or someone else who is aware of it.

Original records held at the Registry are confidential and are not available for viewing for family history research by members of the public or professional genealogists.

In Western Australia, historical certificates are available to:

Anyone (16 years of age or over) for births 100 years old or more
Anyone (16 years of age or over) for deaths 30 years old or more
Anyone (16 years of age or over) for marriages 75 years old or more.

In recognition of the fact that the fraudulent use of certificates reduces with the age of the record, the evidence-of-identity requirements are not required for the historical certificates stated above.

More recent certificates held by the Registry contain sensitive and personal information and are restricted to eligible people only.

A person must be at least 16 years of age to apply for a certificate and must provide their evidence-of-identity.

If you are not an eligible applicant you must provide the written consent or authority from an eligible person and you must also provide evidence-of-identity for yourself and that person (see Letter of Authority download below).

Please refer to the Registry's Certificate Access Policies for a full list of eligible applicants.

Forms

Fees

The fees for applying for a certificate:

$50 - Certified Birth, Death or Marriage Certificate
$34 - Search of an Index (each 10 year range)
$20 - Uncertified copy of a record (Open Era records only)
$35 - Priority Service (not payable when applying in person)

The following payment methods are accepted:

Credit card - MasterCard or Visa only
EFTPOS debit card or cash - When paying in person
Cheque or money order - Payable to Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. When paying at a Western Australian court payable to the Department of Justice.
Overseas applicants - $AUD via credit card (MasterCard or Visa only) or international money order or bank draft payable to Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Applicants are required to provide at least three forms of evidence-of-identity documents before being eligible to receive certificates.

One from List 1, 2 and 3. At least one containing a photograph

One from List 1 and two from List 2. At least one containing a photograph

Two from List 2 and one from List 3. At least one containing a signature.

List 1 – Link between photo and signature

Australian driver’s licence
Australian Passport
Australian Firearm Licence
Defence Force/Police Id Card
Australian Citizenship Certificate (with evidence of residential status)
Western Australian Photo Card, Over 18 or Proof of Identity Card
Australian learner driver’s permit card

List 2 – Evidence of operating in the community

A financial institution Debit or Credit card
Document of identity issued by the Passport Office
Centrelink/Veterans Affairs Entitlement Card
Birth Certificates (birth extracts are not accepted)
Medicare Card
Naturalisation, citizenship or immigration papers issued by the Department of Home Affairs
Australian Security or Crowd Control Licence
Student Identity Document or Statement of Enrolment

List 3 – Proof of residency

Drivers licence renewal notice
Financial institution statement less than 6 months old
Motor vehicle registration
Property Lease or Tenancy Agreement
Shire/Water rates notice
Student Report or Certificate less than 12 months old
Utility Account less than 6 months old

For overseas applicants, the Registry will consider overseas equivalent evidence-of-identity documents.

Applications can be submitted:

In person

At the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Perth or at any court location in Albany, Armadale, Broome, Bunbury, Busselton, Carnarvon, Collie, Derby, Esperance, Fremantle, Geraldton, Joondalup, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Katanning, Kununurra, Mandurah, Manjimup, Merredin, Midland, Morra, Narrogin, Northam, Rockingham and South Hedland.